Archive for the ‘Shinrin-yoku’ Category

On top of the beautiful Lookout Mountain in Northwest Georgia, we will be gathering for a wonderful herbal experience this September. I will be teaching a class on Herbs for Stress and leading a Forest Bathing experience to calm our nerves and enliven our senses. I’m excited that herbalists Ila Hatter and Lauren Haynes will be leading herb walks and teaching medicine making. You won’t want to miss this herbal gathering for women.

In partnership with Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, TN, I will be leading a Forest Bathing experience. Contact (in advance) Crabtree to register.

Forest Bathing, also called Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese concept of immersing oneself in the rich sensory experience of the forest with open awareness and no expectations. The body and mind “bathes” in the smells, sounds, light, movement, taste and feel of the forest.

Through mindful experiences such as Forest Bathing, we can be present with the body and senses, simply resting in natural awareness, grounded. We will practice skills in how to work with difficult thoughts and feelings to reduce stress and anxiety.

Research in Japan is providing evidence of what nature-lovers have intuitively known for years: that reconnecting to the forest will heal us. Studies show, specifically, that intentional forest walking elevates the mood, reduces stress hormones such as cortisol, boosts the immune system, and reduces the heart rate.

Experience it for yourself.

Location: Guild-Hardy Trail at Lookout Mountain Conservancy. (The trail is located at the northern end of Lookout Mountain within the Chattanooga city limits. Park in the far west end (gravel) lot at Ruby Falls where we will meet to start our walk.)

In August 2015, Tennessee’s Wildside adventured into the Tennessee Citico Wilderness to film naturalists and people seeking a day of reconnecting with their wild side. Bill and Laura Hodge organized the event, sponsored by Wild South and SAWS. I was honored to have Tennessee Wildside come along to film the edible and medicinal plant hike I led to Fall Branch Falls. This is one of my favorite areas in East Tennessee’s Wilderness region. Medicinal plants abound right at the trailhead and throughout the entire hike. In August, it is a cool, moist day in the 70s, a refuge in the southern heat.

It’s winter now as I post this, but at the end of February, the earliest of spring ephemeral wildflowers will soon emerge. Once the days start getting longer after the winter solstice, I’m already dreaming of spring wildflowers. I post this now to remind us of the beauty to come, and urge people to get out and enjoy our precious wilderness areas in 2017. I’ll be leading some edible and medicinal hikes this year. Stay tuned!

And PLEASE! contact TN Congressman Chuck Fleischmann to tell him to sign the Tennessee Wilderness Act. It takes an act of congress to protect Wilderness forever, which is a forever “thank you” to those who made it happen. Wilderness is where you can lose your urban worries, and find the wild heartbeat in your soul. Don’t you think we need that right now?

To watch the 5 minute video on Tellico Wild, including some of my hike, click this link:

Forest bathing is a practice of being present, opening our senses to receive all of the forest. It isn’t about taking your clothes off to literally bathe. It’s a figurative use of the word, as in to fully bask in the atmosphere.

Experience the life-changing practice of mindfulness in nature. Be present with the body and senses. Simply rest in natural awareness, grounded, and discover the intimate engagement of life within life. Within this sacred context, gain skills in how to work with difficult thoughts and feelings to reduce stress and anxiety. Forest Bathing, also called Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese concept of immersing oneself in the rich sensory experience of the forest with open awareness and no expectations. The body and mind “bathes” in the smells, sounds, light, movement, taste and feel of the forest. Research in Japan is providing evidence of what nature-lovers have intuitively known for years: that reconnecting to the forest will heal us. Studies show, specifically, that intentional forest walking elevates the mood, reduces stress hormones such as cortisol, boosts the immune system, and reduces the heart rate. Experience it for yourself.

The Plan:

We will meet at the Elsie A. Holmes Nature Park in Ringgold, GA of Catoosa County. 88 Ben Holmes Road, Ringgold, GA 30736http://www.catoosarec.com/elsie-a-holmes-nature-park.html Elsie Holmes Park is along the South Chickamauga Creek and is home to trillium, bloodroot, Jacob’s ladder, Solomon’s seal, enormous green dragons and the endemic Mountain Skullcap.

Bring your lunch and something light and portable to sit on (plastic bag will do) to eat by the banks of the South Chickamauga Creek. Wear shoes with good tread and if you have a hiking stick or pole, it could be useful on the last, short segment, which is a fairly steep incline.

After the walk, we will be in the screened pavilion for the lecture on herbs for stress reduction. There are restrooms located near the pavilion.

10:30 am Arrival, followed by meditation in the pavilion

11:00-12:00 Forest Bathing

12:00-12:30 Lunch by the banks of the S. Chick Creek

12:30-1:30 Forest Bathing

1:30-2:30 Lecture on Herbs for Stress Reduction

About Holli Richey:

Holli Richey RH(AHG), LCSW is a registered herbalist and mindfulness-oriented psychotherapist practicing mind-body-spirit care at the Erlanger Community Health Centers in Chattanooga, TN. Holli has studied plant medicine for 20 years and has led plant walks for 15 years. Holli facilitates nature-based therapy, herb walks and Forest Bathing (shinrin-yoku) retreats in the mountains of southeastern Tennessee. Holli graduated from Maryland University of Integrative Health with a MS in Herbal Medicine and the University of Georgia, School of Social Work. Visit her blog at hollirichey.com.